“Three Armenian Manuscripts from Toscana” Exhibition has opened in Matenadaran with the participation of the President: Manuscripts whose home is not only Matenadaran but also the Medici Library

President Armen Sarkissian participated at the opening of the “Three Armenian Manuscripts from Toscana” exhibition at the Foundation of the Mesrop Mashtots Scientific and Research Institute of Ancient Manuscripts. Three out of 14 Armenian manuscripts preserved at the Laurentian Library in Florence, Italy – the 13th century Priesthood Book from the Cilician Armenia, the 14th Century Psalms and the Book of Commons will be on display for the visitors of the Matenadaran up to the end of this year. The interactive media system allows to observe also digital pages of the manuscripts. Present at the opening of the exhibition were also President of the Italian National Research Council Massimo Inguscio, Director for Innovations and Technological Issues at IMB Fabrizio Renzi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy in Armenia Vincenzo del Monaco.

Opening the exhibition, Director of Matenadaran Vahan Ter-Ghevondian assessed it as a unique event - this is the first time that the Matenadaran is hosting ancient treasures placed in the friendly country.

The President of the Italian National Research Council Massimo Inguscio underscored that this exhibition was a result of the reciprocal visits of the Presidents of Armenia and Italy Armen Sarkissian and Sergio Mattarella and the undertaking to develop the bilateral cultural ties. “We have come here from Dilijan, from the Summit of Minds where we spoke about the power of artificial intelligence, - he said. “But this small exhibition, I believe, proves how deep natural intelligence can be. This exhibition proves that relations formed in the course of centuries do not wither. We have these manuscripts thanks to the priests who had reached Italy by the Silk Road. My message is the following: Italy, the Italian culture, and Italian technologies stand ready to develop the relations between the two countries.”

President Armen Sarkissian noted that the three Armenian manuscripts, which for centuries have been retained out of Armenia, have come back home. “But not only Armenia and the Matenadaran are their homes but also Italy and the magnificent Medici Library. These ancient manuscripts prove the friendly relations between Armenia and Italy have been forming for centuries,” he underscored.

President Sarkissian hailed the great interest of the President of Italy Sergio Mattarella towards the Armenian culture and asked to convey to him the assurances of his highest consideration and readiness to deepen the cooperation and carry out joint works.

President Sarkissian thanked the Ambassador of Italy to Armenia Vincenzo del Monaco for his efforts in organizing the exhibition and expressed hope that other similar events would come soon. “I am proud to be here today and to open this exhibition. I hope that the next one will not be late and it doesn’t matter whether it will be here or in Rome because we are linked not only historically but also technologically.”

In making arts and culture more accessible for the public at large, the President stressed the role of science and technologies and noted that science, technologies, culture and arts become another promising areas of the Armenian-Italian cooperation.